More Tamdan McCrory

Biography

TRAINING: I start my mornings with some type of strength, conditioning, and/or mobility workout with my trainer Mike Atkinson. Afternoon/evening workouts are either at Xtreme for technique and sparring or with my striking coach Dewey Cooper.

Do you have any heroes? I don't have any "heroes" but I've had some great coaches over the years that have motivated me and trained me to become successful. I hope to do the same for fans who watch me and the students I mentor.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I'm back where I belong and I have a chance to improve my quality of life for my family.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? B.S. in Kinesiology at SUNY Cortland

What was your job before you started fighting? College student

Favorite grappling technique: Whatever gets the job done

Favorite Striking technique: Knocking Noggins

• Pro since 2006

• Took five-year break from MMA from 2009 to 2014

• 2-0 between UFC appearances, with one KO and one submission lasting a combined 1:27

• Eight wins by KO, five by submission (armbar, 3 triangle, RNC)

• Eight first round finishes

• Origin of nickname: “I used to train in a Morton building on the outskirts of Cortland, NY, where there were abandoned barns and feral cats that would be getting into the dumpsters. Marty, "The One Man Party," told us that Barn Cats are pound-for-pound the most ferocious animals alive. Like if you had a 1000-pound Barn Cat vs. a 1000-pound Bear, the Barn Cat would easily kill it. In fact, if you had a Barn Cat that was equal in size to a shark, the Barn Cat would kill a shark... in the water! My coaches watched me bludgeon my opponent in my first fight with absolutely no technique at the time, and they decided I was to be "The Barn Cat." I hated it at first, but when I got announced at my second fight some drunks in the back were screaming "Kick his ass, Barn Cat!" and I never looked back since. People used to knock my name, now f**kers are trying to rip it off and use it for themselves. That's why I'm "THE BARN CAT," emphasis on the "THE." Just like The Highlander, there can only be one, the original, Tamdan "THE Barn Cat" McCrory.